ESTEVAN - The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society’s (OTS) annual oilmen’s golf tournament is going to have a more familiar look this year.
The tournament will happen from Friday to Sunday at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course. It will be back to having both 18-hole and 36-hole components, with a champion crowned for each, and there will also be a steak supper served at the Power Dodge Curling Centre on Saturday night.
Estevan OTS president Tony Sernick said preparations are going well. All of the behind the scenes work is taken care of, and they have been trying to attract more golfers.
They had about 200 golfers as of May 26, and they would like to be around 300. The deadline to register was May 31.
Those who enter the 18-hole tournament, which usually attracts more golfers, will play their round on Friday or Saturday. The golfers who are in the 36-hole tournament will play their first round on Friday or Saturday as well, and then they will have the final round on Sunday.
The score in the first round for those in the 36-hole event will determine flights. The final round will determine the tournament champion.
In the previous two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament has been just an 18-hole competition, with golfers competing on one of two days.
“This year there was a lot of interest in going to the 36-hole format, which is nice because you qualify with your friends or family on the Friday or Saturday, and then Sunday you get flighted with guys that are relative to the score that you shot,” said Sernick.
“Lots of guys missed that Sunday event where you get to golf with somebody you wouldn’t golf with normally,” said Sernick.
So far this year, there has been approximately a 50-50 split between the 18-hole and 36-hole events, but typically the 18-hole event has more interest.
“There are guys who like to come in, have their fun and get back to life,” said Sernick.
Tee times are 7 a.m.-3p.m. on Friday and 7-11 a.m. on Saturday. There will be a shotgun start on Sunday.
The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at the curling rink. This also marks the first time that the banquet has happened since 2019. The steak will be prepared by the OTS cooking crew.
Sernick is looking forward to seeing all of the golfers at the supper.
“That’s where everyone gets to get together, have a nice meal and share friendships or make new friendships,” said Sernick.
